Gyllenhaal, Cumberbatch to star in ‘The Current War’?

Los Angeles, Sep 25 (IANS) Actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Benedict Cumberbatch are in talks to play George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison in the “The Current War”.

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is in talks to direct the film, which is written by Michael Mitnick, reports variety.com.

The movie takes place in the late 1880s and revolves around power titans Edison and Westinghouse’s battle over the supply of electricity. Edison championed the use of a direct current for electric power distribution over an alternating current, which was backed by several European companies and Westinghouse Electric.

Timur Bekmambetov, who was originally eyed to direct the movie, will produce it alongside Film Rites’ Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch.

Gyllenhaal is currently shooting Tom Ford’s “Nocturnal Animals”, while Cumberbatch is about to start filming Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” and Gomez-Rejon is working on “Collateral Beauty.”

Gyllenhaal also has the Boston Marathon bombing pic “Stronger” on his slate.